An attempt to measure psychological distance in advantaged and disadvantaged children.

The psychological distance of groups of advantaged and disadvantaged children was measured with a psychological distance board (PDB) and a modified version of the Make-A-Picture Story (MAPS) technique. The PDB called for Ss replacing combinations of pairs of figures differing in social or nonsocial value on a felt-covered board. The MAPS procedure permitted Ss to choose figures and scenes differing in their advantageddisadvantaged characterizations and to place them wherever they preferred. Disadvantaged children are more variable in their distance responses than advantaged children and consistently place farther apart all classes of social stimuli but not neutral stimuli. On the MAPS there are again greater distance responses for disadvantaged children in their placements of disadvantaged figures. The themes of disadvantaged children's stories, however, are more affiliative, suggesting a conflict in the establishment of optimal psychological distance.